About COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is monitoring an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus, named Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19, which has spread to the United States. The United States is now seeing person-to-person spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Persons experiencing homelessness are more vulnerable to infectious disease due to their limited access to healthcare, their mobility, and poor health status. With any other congregate setting, there are special considerations for providers of homeless shelters and homeless service providers to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
Keep informed on the status of COVID-19 for your local community. The Florida Department of Health has updated information about cases in our State and Centers for Disease Control has updated information about cases in the United States.
At this time, we are asking for you to implement prevention strategies and develop plans to address your local response to COVID-19.
Florida Department of Health Coronavirus Map
Non-Profit Resources
Florida Community Loan Fund Resources for Nonprofits
State of Florida Resources
New! State of Florida COVID-19 Guidance for Homeless Shelters
Florida Department of Management Services Small Business Resources
COVID-19 Prevention Poster 11×17
Department of Health Self Screening Guide
Prevention Poster
RESOURCES FROM HUD
HUD strongly encourages Continuums of Care (CoCs) to contact local public health departments and other health partners to ensure the unique needs of the homeless service system are incorporated in health department plans. CoCs can take steps now to develop preparedness and response plans to protect against infection.
- HUD Guidance:
- Infectious Disease and Provider Preparedness
- Questions to Assist CoCs and Public Health Authorities to Limit the Spread of Infectious Disease in Homeless Programs
- Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease for People Experiencing Homelessness
- Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease within Shelters
- Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease within Encampments
- Specific Considerations for Public Health Authorities to Limit Infection Risk Among People Experiencing Homelessness
- Questions to Assist CoCs and Public Health Authorities to Limit the Spread of Infectious Disease in Homeless Programs
GUIDANCE & INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL PARTNERS
- CDC Guidance:
- General Index
- NEW Interim Guidance for Responding to COVID-19 among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
- For Community Settings with Confirmed/Suspected Infection
- NEW: Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations
- Evaluating and Testing Persons for COVID-19
- Florida’s Children First – Youth Guides and Handouts
- National Healthcare for the Homeless
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- NAEH Guidance:
- USICH Guidance:
- Do you have additional resources to share? Email Us
Key Information for Service Providers
This resource guide is intended to provide useful information to homeless shelters, transitional housing, and other homeless service providers to prepare in the event cases of COVID-19 are found in your community and to help prevent the spread of infection. Here are some key take-aways from Federal partners:
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- Discuss reporting and testing procedures ahead of time with your local Health Department
- Communicate with staff and clients about facility preparedness and policy updates
- Expect staff to be impacted and prepare for emergency modified service delivery based on staff capacity
- Protect your staff by:
- Screening clients, staff, and visitors for acute respiratory illness
- Ensuring use of personal protection equipment
- Encouraging sick employees to stay home
- Immediately isolate sick clients from those who are not sick
- Require the use of a clean disposable facemask for clients with respiratory symptoms
- Implement prevention strategies to minimize exposure by:
- Encouraging frequent hand-washing
- Increasing surface cleaning/disinfection
- Enforcing a safe (3-6 foot) distance policy for all clients and staff (ie: bed spacing, foot to head bed placement, reducing the number of individuals in one area at a time by increasing the number of meals or services provided)
- Take inventory of supplies (hand soap, food, and more) and order more if necessary.